Bethesda vs Blaenau Ffestiniog
Which is better to live in? Distance: 13.8 miles apart.
The verdict
When it comes to cost of living, Blaenau Ffestiniog wins on house prices with a 36% gap. Blaenau Ffestiniog has the lower crime rate of the two.
Avg House Price
Bethesda
£174,905
Blaenau Ffestiniog
£128,844
Crime Rate
Bethesda
69.5
Blaenau Ffestiniog
69.3
Top-Two School Inspection Bands
Bethesda
N/A
Blaenau Ffestiniog
N/A
Avg Download Speed
Bethesda
238.7
Blaenau Ffestiniog
333.4
EPC Rating
Bethesda
63.6
Blaenau Ffestiniog
63.6
Median Income
Bethesda
£24,186
Blaenau Ffestiniog
£24,186
House Prices (2025)
Most affordable in WalesAt £128,844, Blaenau Ffestiniog undercuts Bethesda (£174,905) by around 36% on average house prices. The most affordable entry point in Bethesda is a flat at £150,500, while in Blaenau Ffestiniog it is a flat at £61,000.
Average Price by Property Type (2025)
Biggest gap: flat homes are 147% pricier in Bethesda (£150,500 vs £61,000).
Price Trend (11 Years)
Over the last 9 years, Bethesda prices grew faster — 30% vs 30%.
Crime & Safety
Safest in WalesResidents of Blaenau Ffestiniog experience less crime overall, with a rate of 69.3 per 1,000 versus 69.5 per 1,000 in Bethesda. The most common crime category in Bethesda is violent-crime, while in Blaenau Ffestiniog it is violent-crime.
Crime Rate by Category (per 1,000 residents)
Both towns share the same top crime category: violent crime.
Schools & Education
Best for schools in WalesSchool quality data is not fully available for both Bethesda and Blaenau Ffestiniog. Bethesda has 0 schools and Blaenau Ffestiniog has 0 schools.
Bethesda School Inspection Breakdown
Blaenau Ffestiniog School Inspection Breakdown
| Metric | Bethesda | Blaenau Ffestiniog |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 0 | 0 |
| Primary | 0 | 0 |
| Secondary | 0 | 0 |
| % Top two bands | N/A | N/A |
Broadband & Connectivity
Broadband in Blaenau Ffestiniog averages 333.4 Mbps – ahead of Bethesda's 238.7 Mbps. Superfast coverage (30 Mbps+) reaches 92.8% of premises in Bethesda and 90.2% in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Gigabit availability stands at 35.2% in Bethesda and 61.9% in Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Blaenau Ffestiniog is the faster of the two by 40% on average download speed (333 vs 239 Mbps).
Energy Efficiency & Running Costs
Energy efficiency favours Bethesda, scoring 63.6 on average (band D) compared to 63.6 (band D) in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Estimated annual energy costs average £1,572 in Bethesda and £1,572 in Blaenau Ffestiniog. 43.2% of homes in Bethesda have an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 43.2% in Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Bethesda has more energy-efficient housing — 43.2% reach band C or above, vs 43.2% in the other.
Demographics & Economy
Median household income is £24,186 in Bethesda and £24,186 in Blaenau Ffestiniog. The median age is 46.1 in Bethesda and 46.1 in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Employment rates stand at 52.9% in Bethesda and 52.9% in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Owner-occupancy is 65.4% in Bethesda versus 65.4% in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Bethesda has a population of 3,757 and Blaenau Ffestiniog has 3,449.
| Indicator | Bethesda | Blaenau Ffestiniog |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,757 | 3,449 |
| Median Age | 46.1 | 46.1 |
| Median Household Income | £24,186 | £24,186 |
| Employment Rate | 52.9% | 52.9% |
| Owner Occupied | 65.4% | 65.4% |
| Degree-Level Qualified | 34.5% | 34.5% |
Location
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
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